We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kate McCall a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kate, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today.
If I were starting over, one thing I would do differently is ask more questions and ask for help! I was extremely determined to succeed in my career, but failed to realize how much more quickly I could reach my goals if I had accepted more help from others! There is so much power in asking for help and allowing others to teach you from their own experience. I firmly believe that I could’ve made it to where I am today faster if I had asked more questions from the very beginning of my venture. You would be surprised at how many people are willing to lend a helping hand if you give them the opportunity to do so!
Kate, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Kate! I’ve grown up in Oceanside, California and got into photography when I was 16. It started out as a hobby, but quickly became something I’d like to do for the rest of my life. I was a part-time photographer up until August of 2020, when I decided to take it full time! As someone who had always worked a regular 9-5, building my own schedule was extremely difficult for me. I underestimated the amount of self-discipline it would take to create a schedule that benefited me both creatively and structurally. As someone who is a creative first and business person second, it was important for me to make a work-flow that wasn’t too rigid, so as to not stifle the creativity that propels my art (this took a lot of time). Once I made this routine concrete, I was able to connect with other creatives/brands to offer my services! I offer a range of services within my niche which include 35mm photo, digital photo, video, and creative direction! I think I’m a really great listener, so when my clients ask me for something specific, I’m able to execute their vision thoroughly. The discussion with clients prior to shooting helps largely in alleviating potential problems and unwanted outcomes. I think one of the things I’m most proud of in my field of work is my ability to make people feel comfortable. It’s extremely important to me that my client feels seen and understood when in front of my lens because this not only creates a fun and safe shooting environment, but it’s also the key to taking photos that both myself and the client will love! I want my clients and supporters old, new, and future to know that first and foremost, their support is the most encouraging and beautiful part of my job, and secondly, that my biggest goal is to bring their visions to life with us much detail, care, and creativity as I can! It’s extremely important to me that the art I create feels authentic and genuine, because my main goal is to inspire others and give them the confidence to trust me with whatever vision they may present to me!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the freedom I have to express myself. There are never ending ways to make art, and I feel lucky that there are so many things for me to continue learning as I grow in this space. A lovely byproduct of this expression is my second favorite thing about being an artist, and that is connection with others in this community! I would not have made it this far in my career if it weren’t for other artists sharing stories about their experiences.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I wish I had known about skillshare.com earlier on in my creative journey! It’s a website where creatives and non-creatives can learn how to improve their creative skills whether it be on Photoshop, InDesign, or various other Adobe programs. They offer online classes that take you through fundamentals of each program all the way to advanced utilization. It was extremely helpful when I decided to take on photography full-time and would’ve been extremely useful when I started out!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.katemccall.com
- Instagram: katemccallll
- Linkedin: Kate Fatseas
Image Credits
Image 1 Model: Dallas Taylor Image 2 Model: Hannah Cliff Image 3 Model: Jo Elise Image 4 Model: Chloe Montoya Image 7 Model: John Givez Image 8 Model: Malory Landheer